State Sen. Westrom to run against U.S. Rep. Peterson

State Sen. Torrey Westrom is stepping up to vie against Democratic U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson.

The Republican will hold campaign appearances to announce his bid on Thursday in Elbow Lake, his hometown, and Moorhead, according to a release.

Westrom is attorney who joined the Minnesota House in 1997 and was elected to the Senate last year. According to the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, he is the first known blind member of the Legislature.

Republicans have long eyed Peterson's district.

Last year, Republican Mitt Romney picked up 54 percent of the vote in the western Seventh Congressional District Peterson has long represented. That same year, Peterson won 60 percent of the vote. In 2010, which was a very good year for Republicans, Peterson won 55 percent of the vote to Republican Lee Byberg's 38 percent.